Process of and apparatus for continuous blending, for a predetermined quality, of liquids having different specific gravities



May 5, 1936. w. c. HOLMES 2,039,534 PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS BLENDING, FOR A PREDETERMINED' QUALITY,-OF LIQUIDS HAVING DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES Filed May 29, 1955 l INVENTOR.

Wm rm 6'. f/Ol/IES.

ATTORNEYS,

Patented May 5, 1936 UNI 'l'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CON- TINUOUS BLENDING, FOR A PBEDE'IER- MINED' QUALITY, OF LIQUIDS HAVING DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GBAVITIES Walter 0. Holmes, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application May 29, 1933, Serial No. 673,498

a 11 Claims. (cl. 221-96) 'Ihis invention relates to a process of blendin liquids, such as gasoline, of diiferent specific Y gravities to obtain a resultant liquid having predetermined qualities.

The chief object ofthis invention is to facilitate and expedite the supplying 'oigasollne, and the like, having a predetermined quality to distributing tank trucks, which gasoline is blended by the mixture of gasolines of different gravities and which mixing or blending may be accomplished during the time that the receiving element, such as the tank truck, is available for filling, although the discharge maybe collected -in a reservoir for subsequent discharge to the tank trucks ordistri buting devices.

Heretofore it has not been possible to discharge directly from a plurality of underground storage tanks, liquids from each and blend the same and directly discharge the blended liquid to the distributing device, such as the tank truck.

' The present invention is directed to a process for accomplishing this purpose, thereby elimifating the necessity of a plurality of reservoirs for dliierent qualities of blended liquids demanded by different customers, and the resultant saving in reservoir space, reservoir cost, and the saving in the amount of liquid is enormous, all of which is accomplished by practicing the process setiorth hereinafter more speciilcallyin detail.

The chief feature of the invention consists in continuously and simultaneously abstractin from a plurality of undergroundlreservoirs'during a given time interval, predetermined amounts or liquids therefrom and utilizing the same abstracting device to mix and discharge as a blended mixture the composite. liquid, and if desired, directly to a distributing device such as a tank truck.

Another feature of the invention consists in the particular control arrangement whereby the predetermined set-standard of the blended liquid may be maintained during the continuous operation of supplying a predetermined amount of blended liquid to any given receiving device.

The invention contemplates pumping from a header independently connected to a plurality of underground sources of liquids at the same or diiferent levels and containing liquids of different qualities, the sources having a controlled communication with the header and discharging the liquid to the header. .The header discharge is passed through a meter for registering the amount of the blended liquid. The predetermined quality of the blended liquid discharged is continuously determined by a visible gauge de- I vice which is so arranged thatit is continuously supplied with the blended liquid. The discharge apparatus suitable for utilizing the process. 10 J In the drawing one form of apparatus suitable for practicing the process is'exemplified, and in the figure of the drawing ll indicates the ground line, II a plurality of underground storage tanks provided with ground e D filling members [2. 15

connected to the tanks by the pipes ii. The liquid is supplied to each tank from diflerent tank cars containing liquid of a predetermined quality, that is, for example, gasoline of a-certain specific gravity. For example, the left. hand tank shown go in the drawing may be supplied with naturalgasoline, which is about 88 specific gravity: This is casing head gasoline. The second tank immediately to'theright thereof may be supplied with what is known as standard motor fu gs or gasoline which has a 80"speciflc gravity and the other tanks may be supplied with gasoline of different speciilcgravities or may comprise additional tanks for casing head'or motor gaso- I line. Eachtank includes a line ll which terminates as at ll near the bottom of the tank. The numeral It indicates the liquid level ineach ofthereservoir'sortanks ll.

' A header i'l. communicates with the discharge end of each line ll andeach line ll includes a manually operable regulating valve II The header includes a disgharge line I! and included therein is, a checkyalve 2| to prevent return flow of the gasoline. line I! atits discharge end connects to a mnnp 1|,the latter having a 40 discharge 2! that 'to'a meter 23. 'lhe meter has the discharge line 24. It may be arranged to discharge into a reservoir moimted above the ground or overhead for gravity discharge to a distributing supply device, such as a tank truck. Usually, however, line 24 is arranged to discharge directlyto the tank'truck,

' thereby eliminating the ty of storage space. As is well known, tank trucks contain approximately three or more compartments and if the customer or wholesaler of gasoline sends an order for three diiierent grades of gasoline, the same can be rapidly blended for the customer and discharged to the'respective compartments oithetanktrnckbymeansot thisdevicetheu determining factor.

meter indicating the actual amount of each blend received by each compartment in the tank truck.

A line 25 having a Pitot tube inlet 25a departs from line 22 between the pump 2! and the meter 28. This line includes a check valve 26 that prevents return fiow to line 22. The line 25 also includes a manuallyoperable control valve 21. Line 28 discharges to a chamber 28 which has a transparent portion, and herein the same is shown as a cylindrical side wall. The discharge from the chamber 28 is at the level indicated by the line 29 and the same is appreciably below the top of the chamber. The pipe 88, in this form of the apparatus, extends through the top of the chamber and extends downwardly therein and has its inlet end at the elevation indicated by the line 29. The pipe 88 includes therein a check valve 3! to prevent the return fiow of the liquid into the chamber 28, and pipe 88 discharges to the pipe I9 as at 82. The chamber 28 is sealed except for connections 2i and II.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-

A predetermined blend is desired. The-engineer knows from his gasoline property tables just how much or what fraction of gasoline of different characteristics must be included in the unit amount in order to produce the unit amount of blended gasoline having the particular properties desired. By the aforesaid it is to be understood that specific gravity of the liquids is not the whole The so-called anti-knock factor is important and diilerent gasolines of approximately the same specific gravity have different anti-knock properties. The samealso applies 'to the end points and intermediate points of the respective gasolines that are stored in the reservoirs or tanks I I.

The engineer determines what percentage of each unit of the liquid is to be supplied from two or more reservoirs II, and the operator of the apparatus, who may be the tank truck driver or the plantattendant, operates valves I8 included in the designated lines ll, to provide the desired communication between each of the selected tanks or reservoirs II and the header l1. The p p which is usually electrically motor driven, is then started and the suction of the Pump pulls into the header through the lines l8 that have been opened, the respective amounts of liquid from each reservoir being supplied to the header, in accordance with the opening of the respective valve II. For example, one valve I8 1 to the meter and at the same time discharge may be entirely opened and the other'valve, or valves, but partially opened, depending on whether only a second reservoir is to supply liquid or two or more reservoirs are to supp y additional liquid. If a valve is fully opened it is usually the one that controls the motor fuel gasoline tank and the blending is usually made by adding to this supply.

When the pump 2| is started, suction is applied to the header and thence to the intakes I 5 of the respective lines it, the valves ll of which are opened to the desired degree. The discharge from the pump flows immediately through line 22 portion of the blended liquid into line 25 thr h check valve 2 and a restricted amount is pplied to the chamber 28, the restriction being termined by the degree of opening of valve 2 Initially, this valve may be fully opened so that the chamber 28 will immediately filislightly above the level 29 and then the surplus discharges Line 90, as

withoutthe requirement of extra storage space or by way of line 88 from the chamber. before mentioned has its dischar e end 32 communicating with the suction side of the pump 2i and communicates with line i9 so that the pump exerts a suction on line 30 and it takes but a very few seconds for the operator to adjust the position of valve 21 so that the level of the liquid in the chamber 29 is maintained substantially at the position indicated by the numeral 29.

Mounted in the chamber 29 is a gasoline specific gravity gauge or hydrometer 49 and as will be apparent from the aforesaid, the liquid in the chamber 28 is continuously and instantaneously that corresponding to the liquid that is being then discharged through the meter and thence discharged by line 28. All the operator has to do is to watch the gauge 40 and see that the level of the liquid in chamber 28 always is that level indicated at 29 and the gauge 49 indicates the gravity that has been predetermined for the blended liquid desired to be produced. Sealing of chamber 28 equalizes the pressure therein to such an extent that the float to does notrise up with the increase in pressure of the liquid flowing into the chamber, or at least to such a degree that it would materially affect the hydrometer reading.

If for any reason the gravity runs higher in the blended liquid than that desired or ordered, the operator opens the valve l8 controlling the lower gravity supply line II and thus permits an increasing amount of lower gravity gasoline to be supplied to the mixture. The operator watches the hydrometer 48 during this adjustment.

It might be here noted that due to climatic conditions, and the like, to produce a blended gasoline of a predetermined quality, many factors enter and the same valve setting will not produce the same blended quality of gasoline. Consequently, for each specific run, the quality must be checked and continuously checked through constant observation of the hydrometer or gauge and that is the only guarantee that the predetermined quality in the blended liquid will be obtained.

Should the blended gasoline run lower in its specific gravity than that desired, then the valve I 8 of the line ll communicating with a supply of higher specific gravity, such as the casing head or natural gasoline supply, would be correspondingly opened until the desired specific gravity in the blended discharge is obtained.

It is apparent that the hydrometer indicates at all times the exact gravity condition of the blended discharge.

A further feature of the invention, as applied to the apparatus and process, consists in the fact that not only does the pump constitute a source of power for-continuously supplying to the chamber 28 and exhausting therefrom the previously supplied liquid so that the hydrometer will continuously indicate the quality of the discharge from line 28, but the pump in addition to serving as a source of power for lifting the liquid from the underground storage tanks also serves as a mixer for completely mixing the various types of gasoline that are comprised in the blended liquid.

When the desired amount of liquid has been blended and discharged to the receiving device. such as the tank truck, then the electric motor is stopped and all further operation ceases. The valves may then be closed or left open as desired. When a series of trucks are to be filled, all that is necessary is to stop the motor in order to permit one truck to move from the loading station and an empty truck take its place. As before mentioned, difi'erent grades of blended gasoline and in the desired amounts. may be rapidly supplied 1 are based on the quality ordered. If a lower ,quality is shipped, the retailer receives many complaints from his customers or automobile operators as to the failure of the fuel to function as claimed, because gasoline of different specific gravities will function differently. The retailer, as a general rule, never complains about gasoline with a higher specific gravity than that which he has ordered. Casing head or natural gasoline is much more expensive than motor gasoline, as the respective terms have been used hereinbefore, so that with the industry operating at a very low percentage of profit, the blender and wholesaler of gasoline, if more than the required amount of natural gasoline is used, will find himself operating without anyproflt or at a loss whenever more than the minimum amount of casing head or natural gasoline is used in the blending.

When electrical control devices are applied the hydrometer mechanism, or similar mechanism which is responsive to the change in the specific gravity of the liquid in the chamber 28, will he so arranged that through direct or remote control devices,- it will automatically control the move-' ment of the valves "in the lines ll.

It is to be understood that temperature must be accounted for. For every 10 F. of temperature from'the assumed standard "(for example,

60 F.), the gravity is changed 1,i. e.,' if'the liquid temperature is 50' F., the gravity willbe increased 1 above that determined for the desired blended liquid, if the liquid temperature is -70 F., the gravity is 1 less, etc.

Herein the chamber 28 communicates by line ll with a thermometerwell l3 supported-at 42 and includes a. sealed in thermometer ll. Any

1 other suitable thermometer device may-be pro-,

the process of blending, the mechanism set forth vided and in certain instances a recording thermometer may be arranged to automatically shift the automatic specific gravity device to secure full automatic control.

Since the invention is primarily directed to herein before with respect to the automatic and remote control of the valves II, is not illustrated nor is it believed the same isnecessary, since remote control and the electrical operation of valves for opening and closing the same is per se as well known. I

The invention claimed is:-

l. The process of continuously preparing a predetermined desired blended liquid from a plurality of sources of liquid, each having a predetermined gravity and other known qualities, comprising simultaneously pumping from each' of a plurality of the selected sources, controlling the flow from each selected source to the pumping mechanism, discharging the pumpage from the selected sources to a receiver, and simultaneously with the pumping continuously supplying a. portion of the discharge to a specific gravity indicating device and withdrawing the same therefrom by the pumping/mechanism for continuously indicating, the specific gravity of the blended discharge.

2. A process as defined'by claim 1, characterized by the simultaneous mixing of the liquids I by the pumping mechanism to form a uniformly blended discharge 1 3. A process oi continuously preparing a desired blended llquldfrom a plurality of underground sources of liquid, each source containing a liquid having a predetermined gravity and other known qualities, comprisingelevating 'to a common chamber or header, the liquid from'a plurality of selected sources, individually controlling the individual fiow from each source to the header, withdrawing the combined flows from the header by a pumping mechanism, simultaneously mixing the header discharged liquids in the withdrawal to form a uniformly blended discharge, continuously by-passing to a specific gravity indlcating device a portion of the blended liquid, and withdrawing the by-passed portion of the liquid therefrom by means of the pumping mechanism. 4. A process of continuously preparing a desired blended liquid from a plurality of underground sources of liquid, each source containing a liquid having a predetermined gravity-and other known qualities, comprising elevatingto a common chamber or header, the liquid from a plurality of selected sources, individually controlling the individual now from each source to the header,'-. withdrawing the combined flows from the header by a pumping mechanism, simultaneously mixing the header discharged liquids in the withdrawal to form a uniformly blended discharge,

and controllhig the amount of liquid by-passed to continuously maintain a predetermined level of blended liquid in the indicating device, whereby the blended liquid in the indicating'ilevice at any instant is substantially that'oflhe discharged;

to the pump discharge for measuring thefiow or volume discharged by the'pumping mechanism,

a bypass mechanism including a chamber adapt- .ed toreceive a portion of the blended liquid discharged from the pump, means connecting said chamber to the pump discharge whereby the chamber is supplied with blended liquid and under pressure, and means arranged to maintaina predetermined liquid level in the chamber and connected to the pump intake .whereby the pump continuously removes the by-passed pressure supplied liquid, and a specific gravity responsive device operatively associated with the by-pass chamber. j

6. A device as defined by claim 5, characterized by the connection between the pump discharge and the by-pass chamber including other valve means for regulating the amount of liquid bypassed from the pump discharge.

'7. Apparatus for continuously preparing a blended liquid from a plurality of liquids having known properties to obtain predetermined properties in the blended liquid including in com-' bination a plurality of individual liquid contain ing reservoirs, a dischargeline from each, in-

dividual valve means in each discharge line, pumping mechanism having a single intake operatively connected to each or the individual discharge lines and a pump discharge, a bypass mechanism including a chamber adapted to receive a portion of the blended liquid discharged from the pump, means connecting said chamber to the pump discharge whereby the chamber is supplied with blended liquid and under pressure, and means arrangedto maintain a predetermined liquid level in the chamber and connected to the pump intake whereby the pump continuously removes the pressure supplied by passed liquid, and a specific gravity responsive device operatively associated with the by-pass chamber.

8. A device as defined by claim '1, characterized by the connection between the pump discharge and the by-pass chamber including other valve means for regulating the amount of liquid bypassed from the pump discharge. 4

9. Apparatus for continuously preparing a blended liquid from a plurality of liquids having known properties to obtain predetermined properties in the blended liquid including in combination a plurality or individual liquid containing reservoirs, a discharge line from each, individual ',VB1VB means in each discharge line, pumping mechanism having a single intake operatively connected to each of the individual discharge lines and a pump discharge, a header interposed between the valve means and pumping mechanism intake and to which each of the valve controlled lines is adapted to discharge, a meter connected to the pump discharge (ior measuring the how or volume discharged by the pumping 35 a by-pass mechanism including a chamber adapted to receive a portion ofthe blended liquid discharged from the pump, means connecting said chamber to the pump discharge whereby the chamber is suppliedg with blended liquid and under pressure, and means arranged to maintain a predetermined liquid level in the chamber. and connected to the pump intake whereby the pump continuously removes the bypassed pressure supplied liquid, and a specific gravity responsive device operatively associated erties in the blended. liquid including in combi-t nation a plurality of individual liquid containing reservoirs, a discharge line from each. individual valve means in each discharge line, pumping mechanism having a single intakeoperatively connected to each of the individual dbcharge lines and a pump discharge, a header interposed between the valve means and pumping mechanism' intake and to which each of the valve eontrollediines is adapted to discharge. a by-pass' mechanism including a chamber adapted to receive a portion of the blended liquid discharged 'irom the pump, means connecting said chamber to the pump discharge whereby the chamber is supplied with blended liquid and imder pressure, and means. arranged to maintain a predetermined liquid level in the chamber and connected tothe pumpdntake whereby the pump continuously removes the pressure supplied bypassed liquid, and a specific gravity'responsive 'device operatively associated with the by-pass chamber.

12. A device as defined by claim 11, characterized by the connection between the pump discharge and the by-pass chamber including other valve means for regulating the amount of liquid 'by-passed from the pumpdischarge.

13. Apparatus for continuously preparing a blended liquid from a. plurality of liquids having known properties to obtain predetermined properties in the blended liquid including in combination a plurality of individual liquid containing reservoirs, a discharge line from each, in-' dividual valve means in each discharge line, pumping mechanism having a single intake operatively connected to each of the individual discharge lines and a pump discharge, a header interposed between the valve means and pumping mechanism intake and to which each of the valve controlled lines is adapted to discharge, a meter connected to the pump discharge for measuring wgravity responsive device operativelyassociated with the by-pass chamber, and check valve means interposed between the pumping mechanism and the header and preventing return flow to the header and between the by-pass chamber and the pump discharge and preventing return how to the pump discharge and between the by-pass chamber and the pumping mechanism intake preventing return fiow to the by-pass chamber.

14. A device as definedby claim 13, characterized by the connection between the pump discharge and the by-pass chamber including other valve means regulatingthe amount of liquid bypassed irom the pump discharge.

15. Apparatus for continuously pr paring a blended liquid from 3. plurality oi liquids having known properties to obtain predetermined properties in the blended liquid including in oombination a plurality of individual liquid containing reservoirs, a discharge line from each, individual valve means in each discharge line, pumping mechanism having a single intake operatively connected to each of the individual discharge lines and a pump discharge. a header interposed between the valve means and pump ing mechanism intake and to which each of the valve controlled lines is adapted to discharge, a by-pass mechanism including a chamber adapted to receive a portion oi the blended liquid discharged !rom the pump, means connecting said wchamber-tothepumpdischargevvherebythe chamber is supplied which blended liquid and under-pressure, means arrangedtomaintaina predetermined liquid level in the chamber and connected to the pump intake whereby the pump tween the pumping mechanism and the header andpreventingreturnfiowtotheheaderand between the by-passchamberandthepumpdischargeandpreventingreturnfiowtothepump turn flow to the by-pass chamber.

16. A device as defined by claim 15, characterized by the connection between the pump discharge and the by-pass chamber including other valve means for regulating the amount of liquid by-passed from the pump discharge.

17. The process of continuously blending a plurality of liquids having difierent characteristics such as specific gravities into a blended liquid having a predetermined specific gravity consisting of pumping from a plurality of sources of liquids having different specific gravities prede termined proportions of each diflerent liquid and simultaneously mixing the liquids so pumped in the pumping thereof, continuously by-passing a. relatively small proportion of the blended liquid to a. specific gravity indicating device by contlnuouslypumping a small proportion of the blended liquid to said specific gravity indicating device, simultaneously exhausting thereirom and redischarging to the blended liquid the small proportion of the blended liquid so-by-passed, whereby the specific'gravity of the blended liquid continuously and simultaneously deliverable is ascertainable, .and controlling the proportions oi the different liquids supplied in accordance with the variation's'disclosed by the specific gravity indicating device-to continuously obtain a. blended liquid of the desired specific gravity.

7 WALTER C. HOLMES. 

